I don’t act like I can accurately predict the actual players that every team will draft. I find that sort of prognosticating meaningless and unscientific. No one in the world won Bud Light’s $10 Million 1st round prediction challenge last year, so forecasting all 7 rounds seems borderline moronic. I do however study the Seahawks intently: Including roster turnover, contract situations, and player development as related to schematic changes. Obviously free agent signings can throw large monkey wrenches in even the most studious NFL buff’s mock, but that’s why we all love the NFL. So here goes.
1st Round. Defensive End. Chris Clemons turns 31 this year, and I’m pretty sure Raheem Brock just got another DUI in front of my Grandma’s retirement center. Clemons has 1 year left on his contract, Brock has UFA status, and Red Bryant isn’t a pass-rusher. This team needs consistent pressure on the opposing QB to become a top 5 defense. They finished in the top 10 last season statistically, but failed to put pressure on teams with quality offensive tackles. I would love to land UNC DE Quinton Coples here, but that may be wishful thinking.
2nd Round. Quarterback. WWJD stands for Wussy Whitehurst Jesus-looking Dude. Trading for Whitehurst and paying him substantial money is the biggest blunder of the Carroll/Schneider era thus far. However, it was only an insurance plan and it was only for 2 seasons. It is time to jettison Charles In Charge, and create more competition at starting quarterback. Tarvaris Jackson is the incumbent starter, for better or worse, but Pete Carroll preaches competition for every spot. I highly doubt Seattle lands Manning or Flynn, and RG3 and Luck will be long gone by pick #11/12 in the first round. The Seahawks 2nd most pressing need is quarterback. There will be candidates here: ASU QB Osweiler, Zona QB Foles, OSU QB Wheeden, Arkansas QB Wilson, or MSU QB Cousins. This sort of thing just can’t wait any longer. Tarvaris is only on contract for one more season, and the rest of the roster is ready for this investment.
3rd Round. Tailback. I fully expect the Seahawks to resign Marshawn Lynch. They have a franchise tag, and the report is that both parties want to come to an agreement in Seattle. He is only 25, and if they sign him to a 5 year deal – this is the NFL and he can be cut after 3 years if needbe a la Shaun Alexander. Despite this resigning, Seattle will want to insure Lynch due to his bruising running style, and also to effectively spell him on occasion. Forsett and Washington do not fit the zone blocking backs style. Seattle needs a Marshawn Lynch clone that loves Starburst candy to mix things up. A powerful, explosive back that can pass protect and receive out of the backfield. UW RB Chris Polk, anyone? Though I doubt he’ll make it out of the 2nd round.
4th Round. OLB. David Hawthorne and Leroy Hill both have UFA status. The general consensus is that Seattle would like to keep one of them. The truth is that despite who the Seahawks retain, they will need to replace the OLB position. Hill is an OLB, and if Hawthorne goes, KJ Wright will likely slide into the MLB position. I am going to go against the grain a bit, and predict that Hawthorne will be the one they retain. He is the defensive play-caller, and he has earned the respect of the locker room after barely making the team as an undrafted rookie 4 years ago out of TCU. He also plays the run exceptionally well, and has more speed than Hill. The Seahawks defense can improve upon its Tight End & Running Back pass coverage. A role largely handled by outside linebackers. This is the first pick that I really have no basis for a real prediction on, so we’ll go with Alabama OLB Terrell Manning. Manning is 6’3” and runs a 4.5 40. Does that sound like any other 4th round Seahawk outside linebackers you know?
5th Round. Center. The Seahawks have invested heavily into their offensive line the past three drafts. 4 of their first 6 picks have been offensive lineman in Unger, Okung, Carpenter, and Moffitt. Seattle also has Gallery, Giacomini, and Jeanpierre on contract. Whether or not they resign Paul McQuistan will not affect the need for a true backup center. We all saw just how fast an offensive line can get injured last year, and depth here is always a premium. I like ASU C/G Garth Gerhart. He plays through the whistle, and is a run-blocker first. He has been steadily climbing draft boards though.
6th Round. Wide Receiver. The Seahawks have a ton of receivers on contract for next season. But am I the only one that doesn’t understand why? Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin are in. Kris Durham, big Mike Williams, and Golden Taint have to prove themselves. Ben Obamanu has been listed as trade bait. Ricardo Lockette the rocket is a wildcard. That leaves Deon Butler, a Ruskell-era holdover that has endeared himself to me. You see, Deon Butler’s brother used to date my girlfriend’s cousin (truthfully), so Deon and I are practically locked at the hip. I Facebook him a lot, I talk about him a lot, I have an autographed picture of him above my television, one in my wallet, and one next to my bed. He may or may not know who I am, but the point is – we’re close. That being said, he has a lot of ground to make up in the depth chart. I hope his speed returns and he comes to camp strong, because the odds are against him this year. As for the draft, the Seahawks need another tall possession receiver to replace either BMW or Durham (because I doubt the Hawks keep both). My shot in the dark is Penn State WR Derek Moye. 6’5” 4.5 40. Cut from the DJ Hackett cloth.
7th Round. Tight End. While it would be awesome to have a mini Gronk/Hernandez situation with Miller/Carlson, I just don’t see Carlson resigning. Furthermore, Anthony McCoy had a bad case of the dropsies, while Cameron Morrah failed to be consistent also. I believe Morrah will be retained for his pass-blocking ability, but the Hawks will need a 3rd tight end. Watch out for Miami TE Chase Ford. 6’6” 260, with a 4.69 40 time. He had an excellent senior week, and falls into that category of low-risk/high-reward late round tight end steals.
Bonus. I read that Seattle has a compensatory pick coming their way in the 7th round. I’d tentatively pencil in a safety prospect. Atari Bigby is a free agent, and Seattle has no other reliable backups of note at the safety position at this point. Cal Safety Sean Cattouse is 6’2.” So he’s kinda tall, that’s all I got…
Like I said before, I have no faith that any of these players will be picked in the slot provided. But I do think that the positions I’ve penciled in will comprise the draft in roughly this same order. Seattle is finally able to draft value rather than need after the first few picks. This roster has come a long way since GM John Schneider arrived. We’ll let that whole Charlie Whitehurst thing go. After all, Schneider is golden compared to his predecessor. Tim Ruskell’s first rounders were as follows: Chris Spencer, (Deion Branch), Kelly Jennings, Lawrence Jackson, and Aaron Curry. Can you guess how many of them are still with the team? Go Hawks.
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